On behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), I write to respectfully urge your opposition to House Bill 368 and Senate Bill 893. These measures are bad for science, science education, and the future economic health and well being of Tennessee.

The AIBS is a professional society. Our approximately 160 member organizations represent the breadth of the biological sciences and have a combined membership of nearly 250,000 scientists and science educators.

It is important to note that there is no scientific controversy about the legitimacy of evolution or global climate change. These scientific concepts have repeatedly been tested and grown stronger with each evaluation. Any controversy around these concepts is political, not scientific. Indeed, evolution is a core principle that helps to explain biology and informs the development of biology-based products and services, including pharmaceuticals, food, and biotechnology.

As the nation struggles to reignite our economy and prepare our children for the jobs of the 21st century, we should be working to strengthen our science education system - not insert non-scientific concepts into the classroom to placate political special interests.

Please stand-up for Tennessee's students by opposing passage of HB 368 and SB 893.